Greek: egarparaklesishemonoukekplanesoude ex akatharsiasoudeendolo,
Amplified: For our appeal [in preaching] does not [originate] from
delusion or error or impure purpose or motive, nor in fraud or deceit.
﻿
(Amplified
Bible - Lockman)ESV: For our
appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to
deceive, GWT: When we encouraged you, we didn't use unethical
schemes, corrupt practices, or deception. ICB: Our message was a message to encourage you. We were not
trying to lie. We had no evil plan. We were not trying to trick you.
KJV: For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of
uncleanness, nor in guile: NLT: So you can see that we were not preaching with any deceit
or impure purposes or trickery. (NLT
- Tyndale House)Phillips: Our message to you is true, our motives are
pure, our conduct is absolutely above board. (Phillips:
Touchstone)TEV: Our appeal to you is not based on error or impure motives,
nor do we try to trick anyone. TLB: So you can see that we were not preaching with any
false motives or evil purposes in mind; we were perfectly
straightforward and sincere. Weymouth: For our preaching was not grounded on a delusion, nor
prompted by mingled motives, nor was there fraud in it. Wuest: For our exhortation did not have its source in
error nor even in immorality, nor even in deceit, (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: for our exhortation is not out of
deceit, nor out of uncleanness, nor in guile,

For (1063)(gar)
is a conjunction which introduces an explanation and here indicates
the basis for their boldness.

Hiebert adds that...

With his explanatory "for" Paul
indicates what enabled and obligated the missionaries to preach with
boldness in spite of suffering and opposition. He categorically denies
three false motives imputed to them (1Thes 2:3) and asserts that their
preaching was that of men who had been tested by God and divinely
entrusted with the gospel (1Thes 2:4). Had they acted under the false
motives attributed to them they would have been unable to preach as
they did under the circumstances. (Hiebert,
D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996)

One thought widely held by many
conservative commentators is that in this verse Paul explains that he,
Silas and Timothy are innocent of the malicious charges made against
them by the jealous Jews.

L W Grant notes that in this
verse Paul presents 3 negatives...

Idolatry was guilty of all three
evils mentioned here, and the Thessalonians would certainly discern a
difference in the message of these men. Idolatry itself was religious
deception; and many today, as then, are most practiced in the ability
to deceive, being so deceived themselves that they are blinded to the
deception of their own ways. Uncleanness too accompanied idolatry,
with a profession of being sanctified because it was for a religious
purpose. Nor is it any less evident in the religious systems of men
today. In fact many things that even natural conscience condemns are
calmly justified by many who glory in their particular religion. Guile
too is characteristic of the methods used by idolaters to secure
followers. They may give very nice, proper things to begin with, and
when one is persuaded to ac­cept what appears to be a drink of cold
water, then the poison is slipped in. Every false religion uses such
methods. Nothing of this, however, was true of Paul, Silas, and
Timothy. (1
Thessalonians 2)

F F Bruce notes that there
were...

So many wandering charlatans
(γόητες) made their way about the Greek world, peddling their
religious or philosophical nostrums, and living at the expense of
their devotees (like Lucian’s false prophet Alexander), that it was
necessary for Paul and his friends to emphasize the purity of their
motives and actions by contrast with these. The same kind of contrast
is made by Dio Chrysostom in Oration 32 (mentioned in comment on v 2
above). “The normal heathen ‘missionaries’ … were itinerant apostles
and miracle-workers of the most varied persuasions, heralds of heathen
gods, and dispensers of salvation, adroit and eloquent, ardent and
evoking ardor, but also smart and conceited in extolling the mighty
acts of their gods and fooling the masses … There can be no doubt that
they constituted dangerous rivals of the gospel and that general
popular opinion expected the Christian missionaries to be able to vie
with them” (Bornkamm, Paul, 64). (Bruce,
F F: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated. 1982orLogos)

In his second letter to the
Thessalonians Paul makes allusion to a deceptive message writing...

Now we request you, brethren, with
regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering
together to Him, 2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your
composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter
as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let
no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the
apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son
of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called
god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of
God, displaying himself as being God. (2Thess 2:1-4)

The apostle’s exhortation to
believe the gospel was true in its source, pure in its motive, and
dependable in its method. As to its source, it did not spring from
false doctrine but from the truth of God. As to its motive, the
apostle looked on the Thessalonians unselfishly, with their good in
view, and not with any ulterior, impure desire. As to its method,
there was no clever plot to deceive them. Apparently his jealous
enemies were accusing him of heresy, lustful desire, and craftiness. (MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas NelsonorLogos)

exhortation to embrace the gospel.
The word seems to be used here so as to include preaching in general.
The sense is, that the means which they used to induce them to become
Christians were not such as to delude them. (Albert Barnes.
Barnes NT Commentary).

Green adds that...

The gospel is not simply an
announcement of the good news but also a call to respond to the divine
initiative contained in it. (Pillar
NT Commentary. Logos)

Alexander remarks

As addressed to the careless,
slothful, tempted, fallen, it is exhortation; as addressed to the sad
and seeking it is solace and comfort.

Now when they had traveled through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a
synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul's custom, he went to
them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the
Scriptures (Old Testament teachings about Messiah), explaining
("opening them") and giving evidence that the Christ (the
Messiah) had to suffer and riseagain from the
dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the
Christ (the Messiah)." (Note: that here Paul proclaimed the
essential Gospel points - Messiah died, implied that he was buried,
was resurrected -1Co 15:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-see notes on 1Co 15:1;
15:1;
15:2;
15:3;
15:4;
15:5; 15:6;
15:8) 4 And some
of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great
multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from
the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and
coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to
the people. (Acts 17:1-5)

Paraklesis implies an
appeal having for its object the direct benefit of those addressed,
which may be either hortatory or conciliatory depending on
circumstances. The word was used to encourage soldiers before going
into battle and it was said that encouragement was necessary for hired
soldiers; but for those who fight for life and country no exhortation
is required

The word appeal has been
adopted for many translations (TCNT, Weymouth, Moffatt, Goodspeed,
RSV, NEB, NIV).

TDNT on paraklesis and parakaleo...writes that
these two words have a wide range of meaning...

1. the first sense being that of calling to either
literally or with such nuances as calling for aid, inviting, and
summoning.
2. A second sense is that of beseeching, e.g., calling on the
gods in prayer, or, from a superior to an inferior, proposing.
3. A third sense is that of exhorting or encouraging,
and even on occasion of ?winning over? for a plan.
4. The final sense is that of comforting, mostly in the form of
giving exhortation or encouragement in times of sorrow. This is not a
common use. (Kittel,
G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the
New Testament. Eerdmans)

Not come from error - In
the first century world Paul lived in, there were many competing
religions (not to different from our modern times!), and many
ministers of those religions were motivated by greed and gain
(certainly not different from today!). Accordingly, certain
questionable practices common among unsound religious leaders found no
place in his evangelistic labours. And so Paul begins by emphasizing
that their exhortation was without any evil intent.

Paul is saying that their
exhortation...

was pure in its content and in its
intent. It was pure in the sense that there was no deceit or,
literally, no error. There was no uncleanness or impurity of motive
either. Sometimes truth is mixed with error. In fact, the most
dangerous kind of preaching is that which is partly true. But Paul
said, “my message was not just partly true. It is without error. It
has no deceit in it. It is the pure truth. It is not adulterated by
human philosophy and human speculation.” It was, then, God’s message
to them concerning Christ (cp 1Th 2:13). (Walvoord, J. 1
Thessalonians)

Neil notes that...

There has probably never been such
a variety of religious cults and philosophic systems as in Paul’s day
. . . ‘Holy men’ of all creeds and countries, popular philosophers,
magicians, astrologers, crack-pots, and cranks; the sincere and the
spurious, the righteous and the rogue, swindlers and saints, jostled
and clamored for the attention of the believing and the skeptical.

Error (4106)
(plane
[word study]) is
an interesting word which describes a going astray, a straying about, a roaming or wandering, a forsaking of
the right path. By straying about one is led away from the right way
and thus roams here and there, which is not good in spiritual matters.
And it is in this latter metaphorical sense that Paul uses plane, as
if to say our exhortation is not give to cause mental straying in the
arena of morals and spirituality.

Plane is used figuratively in the NT of
mental straying from
the truth and thus refers to error, wrong opinion relate to morals or
religion, a delusion or a deception. Plane thus describes a straying from orthodoxy or piety. The opposite of plane (error) is
aletheia
(truth).

I agree with Richison
that...

A plethora of people peddle their
own viewpoints in the church today. Paul did not come with his own
viewpoint; he came with the Word of God. We must set forth truth as it
is rather than the way we want it to be. We should not manipulate
Scripture for the sake of elegance in preaching. We simply set forth
truth as it is. Our preaching should be as accurate as the
multiplication table. We must never alter or water down the Word or
the gospel. Inaccurately stating of God’s Word will ruin its message.
(Ref)

In the NT plane is used only
as a figurative extension of the primary meaning of roaming or
wandering, whether in doctrine, 2Pe 3:17
(note); 1John 4:6, or in
morals, Ro 1:27
(note);2Pe 2:18
(note); Jude
1:11, though in Scripture
doctrine and morals are never really divided for one
always behaves as one
believes (or at least this should be the case)!

Herodotus (1, 30) writes of of
Solon, who roamed (plane) the earth in search of new information
-- to reiterate plane thus
means a wandering from the path of truth.

In the present context, Paul was
confident that their gospel message was genuine and stood in marked
contrast to the erroneous teaching of their adversaries. Paul, Silas
and Timothy had themselves not been carried away by any wiles of
error, nor had they sought to mislead others by such winds of doctrine
(Ep 4:14-note).
Furthermore, they had not been deceived and were not deceivers (2Ti
3:13-note,
where related verb planao is used).

wandering, whereby those who are
led astray roam hither and thither, is always used in the N.T., of
mental straying, wrong opinion, error in morals or religion....Errors
in doctrine are not infrequently the effect of relaxed morality, and
vice versa.

Literally but not (3761)
(oude) which is an absolute negation. This adverb proceeds
impurity and deceit.

Impurity - is literally "absolutely
never out of impurity". Although the Greek word akatharsia
often refers to sexual misconduct as discussed below and this could be
the primary meaning, the context refers primarily to their message and
motives -- their preaching is not from impure motives such as
ambition, pride, greed, popularity. Their message was not that which
characterized the traveling charlatans of Paul's day.

Impurity (167)
(akatharsia
[word study]
from a = without + kathaíro = cleanse) is literally
worthless material, waste; of graves decayed flesh, causing ceremonial
uncleanness. It is a
broad term referring to moral uncleanness in thought, word, and deed
and thus describes a state of moral impurity and especially sexual sin
or immorality (“the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate
living”). It is not surprising that
akatharsiawas used to describe filth or refuse.
Akatharsiamedically referred to an infected, oozing wound and the
general term often used of decaying matter, like the contents of a
grave. It defines a state of
moral impurity, esp sexual sin, impurity, immorality, filthiness,
state of moral impurity, especially in relationship to sexual sin (note Romans 1:24).
It is a filthiness of heart and mind that
defiles (mars, sullies, spoils) the person. The unclean person sees dirt
in everything. The word
akatharsiasuggests especially that it defiles
its participants, making them unusable for sacred purpose. While
akatharsiaincludes sexual sin, it comes from
a wider Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew OT) usage where
“unclean” could refer to anything that made a person unfit to go to
the temple and appear before God. In a medical sense Hippocrates used
this word to describe an infected, oozing wound with pus and crusty
impurities that gather around the sore or wound.﻿

What is “impure” is filthy and
repulsive, especially to God, whether it is lewd actions or as in this
verse preaching from impure motives.

MacArthur feels that
impurity refers not just to their motives but actual
practice writing that...

In Paul’s day many of the mystery
religions and Greek cults practiced and even exalted sexual
perversion. Those religions were very popular because in most of them
the primary religious experience centered on the cult adherents having
sex with a ritual temple prostitute or the cult leader. Temple orgies
were not uncommon. Sexual intercourse had such a central role in those
pagan religions because the members believed that when one had sex
with a male leader or female prostitute—those supposedly closest to
the gods—the individual connected with the deities. Therefore, through
fornication they supposedly achieved some sort of mystical or
metaphysical union with the gods. Thus wicked, unscrupulous leaders
would seek converts for the purpose of having a sexual encounter with
them. (MacArthur,
John: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Moody PressorLogos)

Not such as to lead to an impure
life. It was such as to lead to holiness and purity. The apostle
appeals to what they knew to be the tendency of his doctrine as an
evidence that it was true. Most of the teaching of the heathen
philosophers led to a life of licentiousness and corruption. The
tendency of the gospel was just the reverse. (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT
Commentary)

OR BY WAY OF DECEIT: oude
en dolo:

By way of deceit - This is more literally never in deceit or guile
("nor in guile" Young's Literal). Again Paul modifies this phrase with
the Greek particle oude which signifies absolute negation. Paul
is not saying he was perfect but he does say that the word he spoke
was perfect and unmixed with hidden snares. Paul is keenly sensitive against
charges against the correctness of his message and the purity of his
life. His message was not given so as to bait or trap his listeners,
which is the meaning of dolos
(discussed below).

Paul means that his his message
was without guile, in other words...

Paul did not come to trick them and
to use methods that were questionable. He did not try to get a
superficial decision for Christ, but he laid down plainly before them
the truth of the gospel and the issues of heaven and hell that were
concerned. The result was that when they trusted in Christ it was a
clear-cut decision which resulted in a real testimony that stood the
test in the days that followed. It depended upon the purity of the
message in both its content and intent. (Walvoord, J. 1 Thessalonians)

Wiersbe explains that...

The word translated “guile”
(deceit) carries the idea of “baiting a hook.” In other words, Paul
did not trap people into being saved, the way a clever salesman traps
people into buying his product. Spiritual witnessing and “Christian
salesmanship” are different. Salvation does not lie at the end of a
clever argument or a subtle presentation. Often we hear, “I don’t care
what your method is, just so long as your message is right.” But some
methods are unworthy of the Gospel. They are cheap, whereas the Gospel
is a costly message that required the death of God’s only Son. They
are worldly and man centered, whereas the Gospel is a divine message
centered in God’s glory. (Wiersbe,
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. VictororLogos)

Deceit (1388)
(dolos derived from dello
meaning to bait) literally refers to a fishhook, trap, or trick all of
which are various forms of deception. We use guile when we fish by
using bait that appears like food to the fish. It is not food but a
decoy. Dolos is a deliberate
attempt to mislead, trick, snare or "bait" (baiting the trap in
attempt to "catch" the unwary victim) other people by telling lies. It
is a desire to gain advantage or preserve position by deceiving
others. A modern term in advertising is called "bait and switch" where
the unwary consumer is lured in by what looks like an price too good
to be true!

Richison writes that...

Secular literature used “deceit”
for a huckster. They used this word for a tavern keeper of the ancient
world who would water down the wine of an inebriated person. There are
those who also water down the Word. They use guile and tricks with the
message of Christ. These are spiritual hucksters. Authenticity in
content and delivery are the essence of the gospel.

Dolos
describes deceit, treachery, fraud, deceitful cunning, duplicity,
trick, wile, guile, subtilty, snare, deliberate dishonesty. It
represents a deliberate attempt to mislead other people by telling
lies. It is a desire to gain advantage or preserve position by
deceiving others. As noted the idea is to set bait so as to catch
them. To bait or deceive in order to achieve one’s end. When a person
wants something, he looks at the other person’s weakness or ignorance,
and he tries to appeal to it. He appeals to it by deceiving and
beguiling the person.

Vine writes that...

the preceding words deny a wrong
source (error) and a wrong motive (impurity); deceit denies a wrong
method. The meaning of the word is best seen in its first New
Testament occurrence, Matthew 26:4 ("and they plotted together to
seize Jesus by stealth {dolos} and kill Him"), or from the use
of the corresponding verb in 2Corinthians 4:2, “not handling
the word of God deceitfully {doloo},” or craftily, that is,
with some personal end in view. Such a charge was afterwards made
against Paul at Corinth, 2Corinthians 12:16, “being crafty I caught
you with guile” words quoted, apparently, from the language of his
detractors. (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas NelsonorLogos)

Barnes writes that the
exhortation was not...

in guile. Not by the
arts of deceit. There was no craftiness or trick, such as could not
bear a severe scrutiny. No point was carried by art, cunning, or
stratagem. Everything was done on the most honourable and fair
principles. It is much when a man can say that he has never endeavored
to accomplish anything by mere trick, craft, or cunning. Sagacity and
shrewdness are always allowable in ministers as well as others; trick
and cunning never. Yet stratagem often takes the place of sagacity,
and trick is often miscalled shrewdness. Guile, craft, cunning, imply
deception, and can never be reconciled with that entire honesty which
a minister of the gospel, and all other Christians, ought to possess.
(Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary)

picks up the metaphor from hunting
and fishing. Deceit is an attempt to trap or to trick and thus
involves treachery...Deception sometimes comes from within, as our
desires impel us to deceive. But more often in the NT, deceit is error
urged by external evil powers or by those locked into the world's way
of thinking. (Richards,
L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency)

We best get the meaning of this
from the corresponding verb (doloun). Doloun has two
characteristic usages. It is used of debasing precious metals and of
adulterating wines. Dolos is deceit; it describes the quality
of the man who has a tortuous and a twisted mind, who cannot act in a
straightforward way, who stoops to devious and underhand methods to
get his own way, who never does anything except with some kind of
ulterior motive. It describes the crafty cunning of the plotting
intriguer who is found in every community and every society." In
another writing Barclay explains that dolos can be translated "guile"
and that "It comes from a word which means bait; it is used for
trickery and deceit. It is used for instance of a mousetrap.
When the Greeks were besieging Troy and could not gain entry, they
sent the Trojans the present of a great wooden horse, as if it was a
token of good will. The Trojans opened their gates and took it in. But
the horse was filled with Greeks who in the night broke out and dealt
death and devastation to Troy. That exactly is dolos. It is
crafty, cunning, deceitful, clever treachery. Dolos is the
trickery of the man who is out to deceive others to attain his own
ends, the vice of the man whose motives are never pure. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The
Westminster PressorLogos)

><>><>><>

Careless
Preachers -Some
opponents of Christianity may not be so much against Christ as they
are against the hypocrisy of His followers. Ironically, it hasn't
occurred to them that no one was more opposed to hypocrisy than Jesus
Himself.

We've all met scoffers who thoughtlessly parrot the phrase, "The
church is full of hypocrites!" But let's not be thoughtless in our
response and dismiss such pronouncements without taking heed lest they
be true.

We tend to think that it's not true of us. But let's think again. Have
we ever been like the Christian who glanced through her window, only
to see a nosy, noisy neighbor approaching her door? Her young,
impressionable children heard her as she growled, "Oh, no—not her
again!" Whereupon she opened the door and gushed insincerely, "How
very nice to see you!"

Our lips and our lives often preach a mixed message. In Matthew
23:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Jesus described the hypocritical teachers of the law and
warned His disciples, "Do not do according to their works; for they
say, and do not do" (Mt 23:3).

God forbid that some opponent of Christ would be influenced by
careless hypocrisy in our lives.

Greek:allakathosdedokimasmetha(1PRPI)hupotoutheoupisteuthenai(APN)toeuaggelionoutoslaloumen,(1PPAI)ouchosanthropoisareskontes(PAPMPN)allatheotodokimazonti(PAPMSD)taskardiashemon.Amplified: But just
as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings
(the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who
tests our hearts [expecting them to be approved].
(Amplified
Bible - Lockman)ESV: but
just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,
so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our
hearts. GWT: Rather, we are always spreading the Good News. God trusts
us to do this because we passed his test. We don't try to please
people but God, who tests our motives. ICB: But we speak the Good News because God tested us and
trusted us to do it. When we speak, we are not trying to please men.
But we are trying to please God, who tests our hearts. KJV: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust
with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which
trieth our hearts. NLT: For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God
to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not
people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts. (NLT
- Tyndale House)Phillips: We speak under the solemn sense of being trusted
by God with the Gospel. We do not aim to please men, but to please God
who knows us through and through. (Phillips:
Touchstone)TEV: Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he
has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try
to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives. TLB: For we speak as messengers from God, trusted by him to
tell the truth; we change his message not one bit to suit the taste of
those who hear it; for we serve God alone, who examines our hearts’
deepest thoughts. Weymouth: But as God tested and approved us before entrusting
us with His Good News, so in what we say we are seeking not to please
men but to please God, who tests and approves our motives.Wuest: but even as we have been approved by God as worthy
of being entrusted with the good news, that approval being based upon
the fact that we had met His requirements, thus are we speaking, not
as pleasing men but as pleasing God who puts His approval upon our
hearts after we have met the test to which He has subjected us. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: but as we have been approved by God to be
entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but
God, who is proving our hearts,

Approved (1381)
(dokimazo
[word study]
from dokimos = tested, proved or approved, tried as metals by
fire and thus purified from dechomai = to accept, receive)
means to assay, to test, to prove, to put to the test, to make a trial
of, to verify, to discern to approve.
Dokimazoinvolves not only
testing but determining the genuineness or value of an event or object.
That which has been tested is demonstrated to be genuine and
trustworthy.
Dokimazois never used of Satan,
as he never tests that he may approve but only to cause the one tested
to fail.

In this verse dokimazo
is in the perfect tense
which signifies that Paul and Silas and Timothy were tested and found
valid by God and that His approval had lasting effect. God had validated
and continued to approve Paul’s ministry. God demands that those whom He
commissions for His service first prove themselves before being assigned
to a responsible sphere of activity. The perfect tensealso implies that there
was a time of testing prior to their being entrusted with the gospel.

Dokimazowas used to
describe the passing of a candidate as fit for election to public
office. Just as Greek candidates for office were tested for their
fitness before they were allowed to assume public office, so the
missionaries were tested before they were commissioned as God's
messengers.

Despite the fact that he was chosen
by God to be an apostle even before his birth (Gal. 1.1, 15), there was
a period during which he was tested and after which God set his seal
upon him as one approved for the ministry. Cultural norms of the day
required that a person be tested and approved before being commissioned
for some office. Not only the inscriptions but also a number of texts
indicate that those who served as public officials should first be
approved for the post. Xenophon, for example, says that Socrates asked
about the membership of the Areopagus in Athens (cf. Acts 17.19, 22,
34), “But what of the Court of the Areopagus, Pericles? Are not its
members persons who havewonapproval?”﻿﻿ Josephus
notes that, under Moses, the tribal chiefs were those “approved
by the whole multitude as upright and just persons.”﻿﻿ Having been
approved by God, the apostles were entrusted with the gospel by God
himself. In a number of ancient writings, the naming of officials to
their post or giving a person a position of responsibility was described
using the same verb “entrust.” Josephus, for example, wrote about
Beryllus, “who was Nero’s tutor and who had been appointed {pisteuo}
secretary of Greek correspondence.”﻿ (Pillar
NT Commentary. Logos)

Entrusted (4100)
(pisteuofrom pístis = faith) in this context refers to
having confidence in a person, giving credence to them. This is
explanatory serving to define more nearly that to which the approval was
directed - entrusted with the Gospel.

Paul was not self appointed and so
was not ministering on his own authority but God's. When Paul met Jesus on the
Damascus Road, the Lord entrusted him with the gospel declaring to
Ananias...

Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen
instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and
the sons of Israel for I will show him how much he must suffer for My
name's sake. (Acts 9:15-16)

In Acts 26 as Paul gave his
"personal testimony" in his defense before King Agrippa, he elaborates
on the his Damascus Road encounter with Christ quoting His Lord's
command to...

arise, and stand on your feet; for
this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint (literally to hand forth
and figuratively here meaning to appoint, choose, destine, often with
the idea of doing so in advance) you a minister and a witness not only
to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I
will appear to you 17 delivering you from the Jewish people and from the
Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they
may turn (purposeful, personal not private decision to as He leads us to
repentance {Repentance is a gracious gift! See Ro 2:4-note, cp note
2Ti 2:25-note,
Acts 3:26, 5:31, 11:18} turn
to God not only in mind but in conduct) from darkness to light and from
the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness
of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith
in Me.'

Paul reiterated the truth of that
concept a number of times in his other epistles...

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not
prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the
grace of God with me. (1 Cor. 15:10)

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to
preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ. (see note Ephesians 3:8)

According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have
been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me,
because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. (1Ti
1:11-12)

But at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation
with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God
our Savior. (see note Titus 1:3)

Thus Paul looked upon himself as a
steward of God’s message, under His call, His command and His authority.

Let a man regard us in this manner,
as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God (as
revealed in the Gospel). In this case, moreover, it is required of
stewards that one be found trustworthy. (1Cor 4:1-2)

MacDonald writes that...

It was clear to him that he couldn’t
please both God and man, so he chose to please God, who tests our hearts
and then rewards accordingly. A steward is obligated to please
the one who pays him. Preachers may sometimes be tempted to hold back
the full truth for fear of repercussion from those who contribute to
their support. But God is the Master, and He knows when the message is
watered down or suppressed. (MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas NelsonorLogos)
(Bolding obligated)

Paul conveyed this same important
truth to his young disciple Timothy explaining that the Gospel is a
sound standard and special trust and for him to...

Retain
(present
imperative) the
standard (outline, sketch, or model used by an artist; rough draft
forming the basis of a fuller exposition of a writing) of sound
(hygiaino means "healthy and wholesome" and gives us our English
"hygienic"!) words which you have heard from me, in the faith and
love which are in Christ Jesus. (see note2 Timothy 1:13)

Gospel(2098)(euaggelion
[word study]
from eú = good + aggéllo = proclaim, tell) originally
referred to a reward for good news and later became the good news
itself. The word euaggelion was in just as common use in the
first century as our words good news today. “Have you any good news for
me today?” would have been a common question. In this secular use
euaggelion described goodnews of any kind and prior to
the writing of the New Testament, had no definite religious connotation
in the ancient world until it was taken over by the "Cult of Caesar"
which was the state religion and in which the emperor was worshipped as
a god (see more discussion of this use below). The writers of the New
Testament adapted the term as God's message of salvation for lost
sinners.

A similar sentiment of God's
trusting the Gospel to Paul other vessels of honor is expressed
in several NT passages...

Ephesians 3:8 (note) To me, the very least of all saints,
this grace was given, to
preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to
bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages
has been hidden in God, who created all things

1Ti 1:11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with
which I have been entrusted. (pisteuo) 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,
who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful (pistos =
trustworthy, dependable, reliable), putting me into service; 13 even
though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent
aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in
unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the
faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against
my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

Gal 2:7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the
gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised

1 Tim 6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding
worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely
called "knowledge"--

2 Timothy 1:14 (note) Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us,
the treasurewhich has beenentrusted to you.

2 Timothy 2:2 (note) And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of
many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach
others also.

Titus 1:3 (note) but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in
the
proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the
commandment of God our Savior

Speaking to please God not men
was always Paul's aim as the following passages emphasize...

It is because we know this solemn
fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others. God knows we
are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. (NLT, 2Cor 5:11)

As we have said before, so I say
again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that
which you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the favor
of men (by toning down his message) or of God (by speaking the truth
without compromise)? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still
trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (Gal
1:9-10)

The Gospel has been entrusted to
every believer, not just the preacher and teacher and Scripture provides
strong motivation for all believers to speak so as to please God and
not men...

And he called him and said to him,
'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for
you can no longer be steward.' (Luke 16:2)

So then each one of us shall give
account of himself to God. (Ro 14:12-note)

For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds
in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made
manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your
consciences. (2Cor 5:10-11)

Obey your leaders, and submit to
them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an
account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this
would be unprofitable for you. (He 13:17-note)

Let not many of you become teachers,
my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.
(James 3:1)

L W Grant observes in Paul
in this verse addresses

that which is positive. It is a
refreshing spirit of lowly thankfulness seen in the expression "we
were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel." Having such
realization, that the gospel was a sacred trust committed to them by
the grace of the eternal God, how could they do otherwise than speak
it as directly responsible to God? God's gospel was not for the mere
pleasure of men. It is a message of pure truth that the apostle was
diligent to speak in the manner that pleased his Master, who tried
their hearts. Men could not always decide as to another's motives, but
God knew them perfectly. How vitally important then that the soul
should be fully opened as before God, to be diligent to honestly
please Him.(1Thessalonians
2)

Speak(2980)
(laleo) is
the Greek verb meaning to make a sound and then to utter words. Laleo
was used originally just of sounds like the chatter of birds, prattling
of children, but was also used of the most serious kind of speech. It
takes note of the sound and the manner of speaking.

In this use the present tense
indicates that it was their habit to share the good news with others.

Not (3756)
(ou) is an adverb which absolutely negates what follows. They
thoroughly and completely rejected any thought of composing their
message in such a way as to be man pleasing or to gain a favorable
reaction from the people to whom they preached. As Paul wrote to the
Corinthians...

my message and my preaching were not
in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the
power of God. (1 Corinthians
2:4,5)

Bruce commenting on not
as pleasing men writes that the idea is...

not as seeking to please human
beings. Cf. Gal 1:10; Col 3:22. Paul's versatility, his readiness to
become all things to all men for the gospel's sake (1Cor 9:22), could
easily have been misrepresented as the policy of a fence-sitter, who
adapted his message to suit his varying audiences. Indeed, he himself
could go so far as to say that he pleased everyone in everything , but
in the sense of seeking their advantage in preference to his own (1Cor
10:33). Basically, he insists that it is God, not human beings, Whom he
aims to please. Cf. Col 1:10
(note),

Paul is not saying that in
pleasing God he was advocating being displeasing to people for
he wrote of the opposite goal in Romans...

Now we who are strong ought to bear
the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please
ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to
his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as
it is written, " THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED THEE FELL UPON
ME. (Ro 15:1, 2, 3-notes)

Spurgeon wrote...

A minister said to me, "If I were to preach in your bold style, I would
lose some of my richest people and offend the rest." And if he did,
would he not have an easy conscience, and is not that worth more than
money? The minister who cares for any man's opinion when he is doing his
duty is unworthy of his office. (Ed note: Amen!)

Pleasing (700)
(aresko) means to be satisfying or behaving properly toward one with
whom one is related. Aresko is found in ancient inscriptions praising
those who have served their fellow citizens and thus conveys the sense
of service and obedience.

The present tense
indicates that pleasing God was the continual desire of the
missionaries.

TDNT writes that aresko...

originally meant to set up a positive relation, hence to
make peace, then aesthetically to please, with such nuances as a. to be
well disposed, b. to take a pleasant attitude, and c. to please.

Aresko is used two other
times in 1Thessalonians, the first use explaining how not to be pleasing
and the second use how to be pleasing to God...

1Thessalonians 2:15
(note) who both killed the Lord
Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing
to God, but hostile to all men

1Thessalonians 4:1
(note) Finally then,
brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you
received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please
God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more.

Keathley comments that...

Whenever our primary aim is to please
men, we lose our capacity to please God. Conversely, only when we seek
to please God and speak according to His Word in love, do we truly have
the capacity to minister effectively to others. Pleasing people stems
from wrong motives such as fear of rejection, desire for approval,
power, praise, and so on. Also, pleasing people occurs when we are
seeking to meet our needs by our own strategies of protection or
defense. (1Thessalonians
2:1-12 Compelling Example )

1. ERROR – The source of
Paul's message was not the product of deception or illusion. Contrast
the innumerable cults and sects that have arisen under the leadership of
men (sometimes women) who were seemingly very sincerely motivated. Part
of their problem is like that of the Jews who had zeal but not in
accordance with knowledge (Ro 10:2-note).
And so the first boundary for Ministry Integrity must be the Truth – the
church is called to be the pillar and foundation of the truth.

2. IMPURITY – The ministry and
minister must not be associated with sexual impurity which was even an
expected component of many of the debauched pagan religions of Paul's
day. We have all heard sad stories where women became emotionally
dependent upon the male ministry leader (who hold to a form of godliness
but lack the power thereof 2Ti 3:5-note)
in such a way that the end result was inappropriate conduct (2Ti 3:6, 7,
8, 9-note).
Unfortunately, it is all too easy for unscrupulous, lascivious spiritual
leaders to take advantage of the emotions of those who are in stressful
situations (cp 2Pe 2:2, 3-note,
2Pe 2:12, 13-note,
2Pe 2:14-note)

3. DECEIT – A ministry
of integrity does not use crafty methods, as if they are out to catch
fish by luring them with attractive bait all with the intent to
deliberately mislead (2Pe 2:17-note,
2Pe 2:18-note,
2Pe 2:19-note).
The transparent ministry does not try to manipulate people to accomplish
their personal agenda. Satan is a master of deceit and so are his
emissaries (2Co 11:12, 13, 14, 15). Furthermore his agents of deceit are
in the process of themselves becoming more and more deceived by their
own lies and treachery! (2Ti 3:13-note)
Beloved if you suffer the experience that you have been tricked in one
area, then you should not ignore it but should question whether you are
being told the whole truth in other areas.

(2) Motivated by Divine
Commissioning (approved by God)

Paul understood that it was God Who
had taken the initiative to equip them for the proclamation the gospel
(cp 2Ti 1:1-note=
not Paul's will but God's will >>> Acts 9:15 = at time of Paul's
conversion Jesus commissioned him!). We need to understand that today it
is the Holy Spirit Who makes someone a leader (cp Acts 13:2, 16:6, 7,
1Co 12:11) and the objective of a local church is to recognize what the
Holy Spirit has already accomplished (that that minister has been in
fact tested and approved by God).

Apple adds this important caveat -
"this commissioning is not just some one time event that you can point
back to and say “Don’t question me or what I do…I was ordained by God
and called to this ministry”…No…there is an ongoing process of
accountability to God that is equally important."

(3) Motivated by Divine
Accountability -- "not as pleasing men but God, who examines our
hearts"

Notice that Paul is not saying just
doing what is pleasing to God (which is certainly the foremost objective
in all ministry), but doing it from a heart motivation that truly
desires to please Him. The ever present danger in ministry is the
temptation to be “men-pleasers” instead of God pleasers! If we
fall into the former "trap", we begin to experience some of its rotten
fruits such as allowing ourselves to be wrongly influenced by others,
showing favoritism, and compromising in various areas (especially in the
purity of your message or your methods - cp 2Ti 4:3, 4-note),
cp Pr 29:25, 28:21, Jas 2:1) Dear pastor, are you allowing God to examine your hearts and your
motives?

First, he (Paul) says, he did
not preach out of "error or uncleanness." In other words, he did not
come peddling some particular private revelation. Today, we are
confronted with a parade of gurus, prophets, seers, avatars and others,
peddling their peculiar forms of doctrine. The Hare Krishnas confront
you in airports; the Moonies, under the leadership of Sun Myung Moon,
who claims to be the Messiah, boldly peddle their doctrine across the
country and around the world. On the surface they appear to be bold and
courageous. They seem to be driven by conviction -- and perhaps they are
in some degree -- but it is wrong conviction. But Paul did not come to
Thessalonica peddling any private doctrine. It was the trut h of God,
confirmed by the prophets
and by Jesus Christ himself.

Nor did he come inviting people to
sexual license, encouraging them to indulge themselves, to
throw over all moral bonds and do whatever they liked. That is how some
attract a big following
today. Think of Jim Jones and what he did in San Francisco. The Bhagwan
commune in Oregon indulged in sexual orgies and people flocked there,
attracted by that kind of degenerate teaching. But this was never part
of the apostle's doctrine.

Also guile, flattery, and greed
played no part in his preaching (1Th 2:5-note).
I appreciate his words along that line, when so many teachers on
television today are appealing to our ego, to the macho instinct in us.
Many of you have seen a certain fellow on television who wears a crazy
hat, smokes a cigar, orders people around and demands that they send him
money. He appears to be bold and uncompromising, but he manifests every
indication of sheer ego and disguises it by an attempt to be a teacher
of the Word. What he is teaching has a degree of truth to it, but it is
mixed with a great deal of error. I can name people right around here
who have succumbed to that kind of an appeal.

Others offer a promise of prosperity.
If you follow them, they say, you will become rich. This was not Paul's
doctrine, either. "We did not come with a cloak for greed," he says.
What a true description that is of much that we hear on television
today! ...

In refuting the enemy accusations
Paul uses the method of simply letting the record speak for itself. The
facts were still fresh in the memory of the readers. In thus repeatedly
asking them to recall what they witnessed he is letting them judge if
the evidence fits in with the charges being made against them. It was a
masterly defense. It proved that the facts needed for their vindication
were a matter of common knowledge. Nothing had been concealed from them.
The readers needed no new and hitherto unknown information to bolster
their new faith. When evaluated in the light of the known truth the
malicious charges being made against them could
not survive. Such a defense is the best proof of the purity of a
preacher’s life. That Paul himself advocates this test is a strong
witness to the integrity of his character and work. The missionaries had
left their converts the memory of true Christian character and unselfish
Christian service. To the consciousness of that fact they appealed as a
safeguard to the readers. (Hiebert,
D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996)

“Our exhortation does not come from
error” (1Th 2:3). God’s Word is the only standard for absolute truth
(John 17:17). Paul’s challenge to Timothy applies not only to those of
us who preach and teach God’s Word publicly, but to every Christian man:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does
not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2Ti
2:15-note).
There have always been those who have twisted the truth, but the end
times especially will be marked by widespread apostasy (2Th 2:3; Mk
13:21, 22). We need to be men of truth.

As I’ve mentioned before, David Wells
in his book, No Place for Truth [Eerdmans], and its sequel, God in the
Wasteland [Eerdmans], shows how the American church has on a wide scale
abandoned biblical truth and embraced whatever works and whatever makes
us feel good. We’re being encouraged to magnify “love” and de-emphasize
doctrine because it only divides. So when popular Christian authors come
out with stuff that is heretical and anyone dares to challenge them on
it, the critic is called unloving. The false teacher is a poor,
misunderstood victim of heresy hunting. If we’re men-pleasers, we’ll be
tempted to bend the truth to please people. Frankly, there are some hard
teachings in God’s Word, and it’s always tempting to water them down so
as not to offend anyone. That’s even true in presenting the gospel. The
doctrine of eternal punishment in hell isn’t exactly popular or
heartwarming (no pun intended!). But it’s God’s truth and we can’t
waffle on truth and be men of integrity. We please God through pure
doctrine.

B. We please God through pure
living.

“Our exhortation does not come from
... impurity” (1Th 2:3). Nor did Paul use the gospel as “a pretext for
greed” (1Th 2:5-note).
In Paul’s day, as in ours, there were men who used religion as a cloak
for seducing emotionally needy women (2Ti 3:6-note)
and/or for making an easy buck and living in luxury. Paul was especially
careful not to fall into either sin. He was morally pure; he was on
guard against greed; and he worked hard to provide for his needs (1Th
2:9). In seminary, Dr. Walvoord preached a chapel message just before
graduation warning us about the dangers of sex, silver,
and sloth in the ministry. He was certainly on target, since
those three sins have brought down many men. About 31% of men in our
culture watch at least one X-rated video or movie per year (Leadership
[Fall, 1992], p. 133). Shockingly, 20% of pastors admit to viewing
pornography in some form at least once a month (Leadership [Winter,
1988], p. 24)! Only 64% of evangelical seminary students think that
watching pornographic movies is morally wrong (Christianity Today
[1/15/88], p. 25)! If a man doesn’t think it is displeasing to God, then
there’s not much of a reason to root it out of his life!

Sexual purity begins in the mind, as
Jesus taught (Mt 5:27, 28, 29-note;
Mk 7:21, 22, 23). If you judge lustful thoughts, it won’t go any
further. If you yield there, you’ll be susceptible to the temptation of
pornography. If you yield there, it’s a short step to outward sexual
sin. To please God, we’ve got to get radical against sexually impure
thoughts.

There’s often a link in Scripture
between sexual immorality and greed (Eph 5:3-note;
Col. 3:5-note).
A district in the Assemblies of God denomination did a study of their
ministers who had been disciplined for sexual impurity and discovered
that every one had failed earlier in financial dealings--living a lie
about tithing, or not paying bills (Leadership [Spring, 1988], p. 15).
Whether the common factor is a lack of self-discipline or a living for
selfish gain, we all face the temptation to exploit God’s truth to take
advantage of others, either through improper sexual relationships or
through bad business practices.

I’ve known men who use the church for
making business contacts. A man in my church in California who was in a
business where you’re supposed to recruit people to sell under you told
me that he had a goal of meeting at least five new people at church each
week. I told him that would be a great goal if his motive were to meet
these people so he could minister to them. But his goal was to meet them
so he could get them signed up to sell soap! But, he assured me, this
was ministering to them, since it helped them become successful people!
To be men of integrity, we must commit ourselves to pleasing God through
pure living, being free from impurity and greed.

C. We please God through pure
motives and goals.

“For our exhortation does not come
... by way of deceit” (1Th 2:3). The word “deceit” should be familiar to
every fisherman. It means “bait.” A fisherman is practicing deceit on
those poor fish, because he holds out in front of them what looks like a
tasty meal, but there’s a hook in it. The fish bites and instead of
getting a meal, it becomes one.

Paul wasn’t using the gospel to try
to trick people so that he could use them for his own advantage or to
build a name for himself as a successful preacher. He wasn’t after glory
from men, nor did he use his title as “apostle” for his own advantage
(1Th 2:6-note).
Nor did he use trickery or slick salesmanship to sell the gospel,
promising people things that the gospel never promises. Sometimes, in an
effort to get people to receive Christ, we tell them how Christ will
solve all their problems, but we don’t tell them the hardships and cost
of following Christ. So they come to Christ under false pretenses.

When their problems don’t go away, or
grow even worse, they grow bitter and fall away. Paul’s motives were to
please God who had graciously entrusted him with the gospel (1Th 2:4).
He lived consciously before God’s sight (1Th 2:5-note,
1Th 2:10-note).
His aim was to preach and live in such a way that others would come to
know God and learn to walk in a manner worthy of God (1Th 2:12-note).
When you live as Paul did, you realize that God knows every corrupt
thought you have, and so you instantly judge such thoughts and take them
captive to Christ (2Cor 10:4-note).
God is witness to every conversation you have, and so you don’t allow
any rotten words to come out of your mouth, but only words that build up
others (Ep 4:29-note).
God sees all your deeds, and so even when you’re out of public view, you
seek to please Him with good deeds (Mt 6:3, 4-note).
The starting place for integrity is genuinely believing the gospel of
God; the focus for developing integrity is to please God in every way,
through pure doctrine, pure living, and pure motives. (Becoming
Men of Integrity)

God Who examines our hearts - The writers are in invoking God as
Witness to the integrity of their motives, which are viewed as having
their source in the heart. Their motive was to please God not men. Their
message was not popular in the eyes of men, but they dare not be
unfaithful in the eyes of God. When we present a message to seek
people's favor or praise, we lose God's approval, for He sees our
hearts.

One of the most poignant passages
regarding God's examination speaks of the future internal heart
examination that every believer must face, Paul explaining...

Therefore do not go on passing
judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both
bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the
motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him
from God. (1Cor 4:5)

Examines - see discussion of meaning of dokimazo above. God is
the one Who continually examined and approved them, and they were
responsible to Him, not to the audience whom they addressed. And the
same principle holds today for every preacher and teacher of God's holy
Word, which should be spoken forth with a sense of reverence and awe
that God would be willing to trust us with this precious, eternal, life
changing truth that the world desperately needs to hear (2Ti 2:15-note)

MacArthur adds that...

The apostle Paul was consumed with
pleasing God because he knew that only God truly examines the hearts of
those who serve Him. Here hearts refers to the inner self, the
real person, where thought, feeling, will, and motive converge. God
scrutinizes all those factors and knows with certainty whether His
servants are seeking to please Him or people. Paul’s recognition of that
omniscience was what motivated his service. (MacArthur,
John: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Moody PressorLogos)

In context, Paul, Silas and
Timothy's motives were continually scrutinized (this use of dokimazo is
in the present
tense) by the
omniscient God. Would it be true that every pastor and teacher could
and would write such a declaration! Paul is saying that God Himself is
witness to their integrity since He is the only One Who can continually
examine the inner workings of their hearts, especially their motives!

Writing to the Corinthians Paul
alludes to the fact that God examines hearts writing...

Therefore do not go on passing
judgment before the time (Judgment Seat of Christ), but wait until the
Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the
darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each
man's praise will come to him from God. (1Cor 4:5) (Comment: Note
that all believers will receive some praise from God!)

HAVE YOU HAD
A GOOD (GOD) HEART
CHECK UP LATELY?

Hearts (2588)
(kardia) does not refer to the physical organ
but is always used figuratively in Scripture to refer to the seat and
center of human life, the very depths of their inner life. The heart is
the center of the personality, and it controls the intellect, emotions,
and will.

And so in this verse Paul uses
heart to refer to the inner self, the real person, where thought,
feeling, will, and motive converge.

While
kardia
does represent the inner person, the seat of motives and attitudes, the
center of personality, in Scripture it represents much more than
emotion, feelings. It also includes the thinking process and
particularly the will. For example, in Proverbs we are told, “﻿As (a
man) thinks in his heart, so is he﻿” (﻿Proverbs 23:7﻿). Jesus asked a group of scribes, “﻿Why are you
thinking evil in your hearts?﻿” (﻿Matthew 9:4﻿). The heart is the control center of mind and will as
well as emotion.

While we often relate heart to
the emotions (e.g., “He has a broken heart”), the Bible relates it
primarily to the intellect (e.g., “Out of the heart come evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
slanders,” Matt 15:19). That’s why you must “watch
over your heart with all diligence” (Proverbs 4:23-note). In a secondary way, however, heart relates to
the will and emotions because they are influenced by the intellect. If
you are committed to something, it will affect your will, which in turn
will affect your emotions." (Drawing Near. Crossway Books)

MacArthur
adds that

In most modern cultures, the heart is thought of as
the seat of emotions and feelings. But most ancients—Hebrews, Greeks,
and many others—considered the heart to be the center of
knowledge, understanding, thinking, and wisdom. The New Testament also
uses it in that way. The heart was considered to be the seat of
the mind and will, and it could be taught what the brain could never
know. Emotions and feelings were associated with the intestines, or
bowels." (MacArthur,
J: Ephesians. 1986. Chicago: Moody Press

Psalm 26:2Examine
(Lxx = dokimazo, aorist imperative)
me, O LORD, and try
(Lxx = peirazo; aorist imperative)
me; Test
(Lxx = puroo = burn by fire as in testing and refining precious metals;
aorist imperative)
my mind and my heart. (Comment: All this is a very bold appeal,
and made by a man like David, who feared the Lord exceedingly, it
manifests a most solemn and complete conviction of innocence. The
expressions here used should teach us the thoroughness of the divine
judgment, and the necessity of being in all things profoundly sincere,
lest we be found wanting at the last. Spurgeon's Complete Comment)
(How many saints dare pray such a prayer! How can we not pray such a
pray if we would desire like Paul to have our motives for ministry be
pure in God's eyes.)

Psalm 139:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O Lord,
Thou hast searched (Lxx = dokimazo) me and known me...23Search
(Lxx = dokimazo, aorist imperative)
me, O God, and know my heart; Try (aorist
imperative) me and
know my anxious thoughts (disquieting thoughts) (Comment: David frequently asked the Lord to examine him in
the Psalms for he knew his heart was deceitful [Ps 51:5, Jer 17:9], prone
to wander [Ps 119:10] and this might also have something to do with why
David was called a man after God's own heart [Acts 13:22]) (Commentary
on 139:23:)

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot
is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests (Lxx =
dokimazo) hearts.

Proverbs 27:21 The crucible is
for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is tested (Lxx =
dokimazo) by the praise accorded him.

Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore thus
says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, I will refine (Hebrew = smelt, test;
Lxx = puroo - literally to set on fire and here to test by fire) them
and assay (Lxx = dokimazo) them; For what else can I do, because
of the daughter of My people?

Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD of
hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries (dokimazo) the feelings
(inmost thoughts) and the heart, Let me see Thy vengeance on them, For
to Thee have I committed my cause.

Jeremiah 12:3 But Thou knowest
me, O LORD; Thou seest me; And Thou dost examine (dokimazo) my
heart's attitude toward Thee. Drag them off like sheep for the
slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage!

Jeremiah 17:10 "I, the LORD,
search the heart, I test (Lxx = dokimazo) the mind, even to give
to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his
deeds.

Jeremiah 20:12 Yet, O LORD of
hosts, Thou who dost test (Lxx = dokimazo) the righteous, Who
seest the mind and the heart; Let me see Thy vengeance on them; For to
Thee I have set forth my cause.

Zechariah 13:9 "And I will
bring the third part through the fire, refine (Lxx = puroo - test by
fire) them as silver is refined, and test (Lxx = dokimazo) them
as gold is tested (Lxx = dokimazo). They will call on My name,
And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will
say, 'The LORD is my God.'" (Comment: This prophecy speaks of
Israel's final refining by the "fire" of the "Great
Tribulation", at which
time that third of Israel who are declared righteous by faith will enter
into the Millennial Kingdom)

><>><>><>

Our Daily Bread - What
Motivates Us? - My wife
and I received a notice that we had won a prize of either $1,000 dollars
in cash or $250 in vouchers. When we arrived at the collection site, we
were told that to be eligible, we would have to sit through a 90-minute
presentation.

As we listened, we
learned that we could receive vacation accommodations for 25 years at
today's prices, which would amount to about $15,000 in savings. But to
enjoy this privilege, we had to pay a membership fee of $5,200. We
declined the offer but were given some discount vouchers, which we
realized we'd probably never use.

Reflecting on that experience, my wife and I wondered why we had endured
what had become a 3-hour presentation. What had motivated us? We wanted
to be polite, but we also had to admit we were partly motivated by
greed.

Wrong motives can even slip into our service for the Lord. Paul wrote to
the believers at Thessalonica: "You remember, brethren, our labor and
toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any
of you" (1Thessalonians 2:9). He had the right to receive financial
help from them, but he didn't want to be accused of unworthy motives.

You know me, O
Lord, for who I am,
My motives are open to You;
Oh, help me to live as Jesus did—
With motives both noble and true. —Sper

The world sees what we do-
God sees why we do it.

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